Sunday, September 9, 2007

cocktails and parties galore

This week's gonna be a crazy week of parties and cocktails and *boring* biz dinners/lunches. Not that I'm involved in that many. It's the time of the year where our industry counterparts come together to catch up with one another, i.e. market info gathering. I don't particularly like attending these events... boringgggg

Recently I've been into blues. And it's woah... scary tough stuff. Irvin gettin me into the bluesy thing, and BB King, Aretha, Ray charles have been keeping me company on my daily bus journeys. Blues is one tough thing to grasp. But once you get it and you experience what it's like to be on the other side, it's simply amazing.

Monday again tmr. And it's already September! Gosh, before I know it I'll be 30! Now, THAT is indeed scary. Sigh. Should I complain that I've got a regular job, drawing a pretty decent salary? Life is sweet (well not all the time.. but you know..) and comfortable. But I'm not exactly doing something I like to do, or derive much satisfaction from, or find much worth in doing. Just going through the motion because there's a well-laid out path in front of me. As Irvin says, I can't bear to let go of the hand that's holding on to the mango tree which has been feeding me so well with sweet mangoes and reach out to the next tree that's bearing even sweeter mangoes. Hmmm...

Saturday, August 18, 2007

I hate having sore throats

Welcome to my first post. Have decided to leave the multiply blog in the mortuary and start a new blog here for technical and personal reasons.

For some strange reason, I've been nursing a sore throat for the past week. I certainly hope this doesn't balloon to some full-fledged flu. *touchwood* That would be horrible. Perhaps it was the stuff that I have been gorging myself with? Argh. I hate that sore throat sensation. Well, despite the bad throat, I headed for a solo KTV session just before catching the King and I matinee today. Perfect plan. Marina kbox for a vocal workout before crossing over to the Esplanade for my soul indulgence. Yum. My KTV craving burgeoned so much, I simply had to go. Only one word to describe it: S H I O K!

The King and I was AWESOME! The ticket I got wasn't cheap. But the seat was superb. 8th row from the front. First time ever I got so close to the performers. Made me wanna leap onto stage and join them! I knew all the songs in the musical and loved all of them. 'Something Wonderful' brought back memories of me doing that song with Irvin in preparation for the ABRSM exam. The leads were in a class of their own. Because the male leads were practically baring their chest the entire length of the musical, they had better make sure they had taut bods and rock-hard abs. And seriously, one had moobs (male boobs) and the other had BOOBS that would put some flat-chested Singaporean girl in the street to shame. Seriously.

I LOVE going to musicals and concerts. When I was a poor and broke student, it was so tough having to forgo such stuff just 'cos it was beyond my means. I mean, such productions do cost a bomb to put together and they come to SG just once in a couple of years. So the hefty price tag of a ticket isn't exactly uncalled for. I still feel the pinch though.... just trying not to think of it. Musicals and concerts are wonderful. Looking at the performers doing their thing on stage, it certainly looks glam. But having been there (for a short while) and done that (just a little), I can indeed appreciate the gruelling work that goes on behind the scenes. It ain't easy leading the life of a performer/musician. With all the touring, it's just a life of solitude which involves being on the go all the time, away from family and friends. And music is your one and only faithful companion with you on the journey. Not to forget all the irritating media and interviews, publicity stunts that you have to pull off. However, with all that negativity aside, I really envy them for being able to do what they love most. I admire them for having the courage to pursue what they want in life. I wish fervently that I could do the same. Alas, we are born in different times, different places, different societies, different environments and hence different expectations. Watching them perform, listening to the strains of the melody, the significance of the lyrics, seeing how they bring life to the characters... just makes me wish ever so fervently that I could join them and be in their midst. And then my stomach sinks when I hear this voice 'you will never be able to do that. U ain't good enough. And even if you were, do circumstances allow you to?' Fair enough, my life is in my own hands and no one can dictate how I want to lead it. But would it be fair to the ones who have brought me to where I am today if I were to single-mindedly pursue what I want to, as that would involve sacrificing them? Sometimes I think, maybe I'm just too chicken. I would very much prefer to take the well-trodden path. Well, that's 'cos the stakes are just too high. Some minor deviation could possibly be the best for me? I'm already 24. Not much time left. Don't wanna look back when I'm 40 and then start to regret not doing what I should have done when I was 24.